The opening of Ysgol Bro Epynt, the new Welsh-medium all-age school planned for Builth Wells, could be moved from September 2027 to September 2028.
Powys County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to approve the change at its meeting on Tuesday 20 October, after challenges were identified with the building work needed to prepare the site for the new school.
According to the council, further work on the building design identified challenges around procurement, construction timescales and making sure all works can be completed safely before primary and early years pupils move onto the Ysgol Calon Cymru site. It said the September 2028 date would provide enough time for the work to be completed.
If the change is approved, Ysgol Bro Epynt would open to pupils from Reception to Year 9 in September 2028, and Builth Wells Primary School and Ysgol Calon Cymru would continue to provide dual-stream education until August 2028.
The school is part of the approved transformation proposals for Ysgol Calon Cymru and Builth Wells Community Primary School, and will provide Welsh-medium education for children and young people aged four to 18.
Since the project was approved earlier this year, a temporary governing body has been set up, the school’s name has been agreed, recruitment of a headteacher has begun and plans for the site have been worked on.
There would be no change to the second phase of the proposals, a replacement building for Ysgol Calon Cymru in Llandrindod Wells, which remains planned for September 2029 at the earliest.
Councillor James Gibson-Watt, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “We remain fully committed to delivering Ysgol Bro Epynt and creating new opportunities for Welsh-medium education in Powys.
“A great deal of progress has already been made, and this recommendation is about making sure we get the opening of the new school right.
“Our priority is to provide pupils and staff with a safe, high-quality learning environment from day one. By allowing more time for the building work to be completed, we can reduce risks, provide greater certainty for families and give the new school the strongest possible start.”
If Cabinet approves the recommendation, work to establish the school will continue, including recruiting a headteacher, curriculum planning and engagement with pupils, parents and the wider community. Procurement and construction work will also continue so the site is ready for the planned opening in September 2028.
